Players, Especially Goalkeepers, Will Complain about the Ball

This year's World Cup sees the introduction of the Adidas Jabulani, billed as the world's first perfectly round football.

This does, of course, beg the question of what shape all the previous balls were?

Regardless, this questionable innovation will have players pointing fingers within days. Indeed, Marcus Hahnemann has already had a moan, claiming that "it's a nightmare."

Getting his excuses in early, the USA goalkeeper continued by explaining that "if you get no spin on the ball, it's supposed to knuckle. If you get spin on it, it's supposed to bend. This ball you don't know what's going to happen with it."

This is of course nothing new. In 2006 Paul Robinson described the Temgeist ball as "like a water polo ball," which may be a little more illustrative if you're one of the few hundred people who have ever played Water Polo.

In 2002, Brazil won the World Cup, despite complaining in the build up that the ball was "too big and too light."

As far back as 1994 Tony Meola complained that the ball was "too light," and other tournaments are not immune, with Spain describing the Euro 2004 Roteiro as "a beach ball."

Of course, despite all the furor to come, you will be surprised to discover that all 32 teams at the World Cup will be using the same ball.

The Dutch Will Lose a Penalty Shoot-Out

Until Euro 2004, Holland were held under the ultimate penalty curse. In 1998, they went out to Brazil in the semifinals, Ronald de Boer and Phillipe Cocu missing the decisive kicks.

Although this is their only defeat on penalties in the World Cup, they have never won a World Cup shoot-out. And it gets worse.

Oh, does it get worse.

In Euro 1992 they also suffered semifinal heartbreak against eventual shock winners Denmark, Marco van Basten of all people being the unlucky man to miss as the Danes converted all five penalties.

Euro '96 saw another legend, Clarence Seedorf, fail to find the net, as Zidane, Djorkaeff, Lizarazu, Guerin, and Blanc all made no mistake.

And their 2004 win was all for nothing, as they were put out by a Maniche wonder-strike in the next round.

Their crowning glory, however, must surely be their display at the Amsterdam Arena in Euro 2000. Not only did they miss three of their four penalties in their shoot-out defeat to Italy, but they had also missed two penalties in open play.

Penalty heartbreak for a solid if unspectacular Dutch side? A strong possibility.

Someone Relatively Unheralded Will Challenge For or Win the Golden Boot

In 2002, Ronaldo won the Golden Boot. It is the only time in recent memory that one of the pre-tournament favourites has gone on to claim that particular title, and he was run close until the final by Miroslav Klose.

The underrated Klose was back in 2006 to take home the Golden Boot ahead of the likes of Fernando Torres, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Hernan Crespo, and Ronaldo.

In 1998, the goals of Davor Suker, six to be precise, helped Croatia come from under the radar and into third place.

The 1994 World Cup was notable for the fact that the joint top scorer, Oleg Salenko, was eliminated in the group stage. Despite hammering in five against Cameroon (the only time this has ever been done at a World Cup) and scoring from the spot against Sweden, he only won a further six caps for this country.

Plus, the other top scorer to everyone's surprise wasn't Romario. It was Hristo Stoichkov of Bulgaria.

The 1994 World Cup was set alight by the Sicilian Toto Schillachi, whose six goals put him just one ahead of Czechoslovakia's Thomas Skuhravy.

However, if we go back further, we see more what we would expect. Top scorers included Lineker, Muller, Pele, Kempes, and Eusebio.

A Ludicrously Unrealistic Goal Will Be Scored

In 1986, moments after dragging his name through the dirt, Diego Maradona elevated it to the heavens by breezing past five or six English players, effortlessly skirting Shilton, and sliding the ball into the unguarded net.

In 1990, the much heralded Roberto Baggio played a one-two near half way and weaved his way towards goal, twisting and turning, before wrong footing the keeper and finding the near post.

In 1994, a mysterious Saudi Midfielder called Said Al Owayran ran the length of the field before clipping the ball over the bemused Belgian keeper.

1998 saw Michael Owen announce himself on the World stage by controlling a Beckham pass before terrorising Chamot and Ayala and beating Carlos Roa.

In 2002 Uruguay served up a wonder strike. The Danes thought they had cleared a corner, but it went just as far as a Uruguayan midfielder, who juggled the ball three times before teeing up left back Dario Rodriguez, who fired a scorching volley into the net.

And the 2006 World Cup was lit up by Maxi Rodriguez's extra-time winner against a brave Mexican side. A better volley, you are never likely to see.

The Referees Will Be Panned

It is a cliche to suggest that a foul "would have been red at the World Cup."

But the facts bare out the supposition—there really are more red cards at the World Cup than any other form of top football.

But sometimes even World Cup referees take things to the extreme.

The 2006 World Cup was blighted by two referees in particular. Mr. Ivanov of Russia went home notorious for dishing out 16 yellow cards and four reds in one fairly good spirited last 16 match between the Netherlands and Portugal.

Whilst the 16 yellows only matched Mr. Lopez Nieto's record from the 2002 World Cup, four reds was a new record.

Mr. Larrionda's performance in the match between the USA and Italy was also criticised. Whilst he was right to send off De Rossi for the aforementioned foul on McBride, his decisions to send off Mastroeni and Pope garnered far more negative press.

And let's not forget any referee who has ever disallowed an England goal, or sent off an England player.